California Lawmakers: Assemble (or Don't? We Can't Quite Remember)
Ah, California. Land of sunshine, surf, and... uh... what session are we in again? Don't worry, Californians, if you can't tell the difference between the 2nd Tuesday of May and a random Tuesday in February, you're not alone. Even our esteemed lawmakers seem to get a little fuzzy on the whole "legislative session" thing.
So, What's the Deal? 2023 or 2024?
Let's clear the confusion like a fresh California breeze. As of today, April 27th, 2024, California is smack dab in the middle of the 2023-2024 legislative session. Yes, you read that right. Those bills you keep hearing about, those budget talks that make your head spin? All part of the glorious, slightly-confusing 2023-2024 extravaganza.
Here's the thing: California legislators like to keep things interesting. Unlike some states where lawmakers take long summer vacations and leave us all to fend for ourselves, California's crew is pretty much always on. They take a little break in December to decorate their offices with enough poinsettias to rival a Hallmark movie set, but other than that, it's go-go-go all year round.
This can be a good thing! It means our state's laws are constantly being reviewed and updated (hopefully for the better). But it can also make it hard to keep track of exactly what session we're in.
Don't Panic! There's a System (Maybe)
Okay, so maybe it's not the most intuitive system, but there is a method to the madness. New sessions officially kick off in December following the elections, but they don't actually get down to business until January. Think of it as a pre-season for lawmaking.
The session then stretches on for a glorious year and a half, which might explain why some days it feels like our lawmakers have been debating the merits of sporks since the dawn of time.
Here's the important part: The session year is denoted by a hyphen separating the two years it covers. So, 2023-2024 is the current session, not 2023 or 2024 alone.
The Takeaway: Embrace the Confusion (or Bookmark This Post)
Look, we all have our forgetful moments. Between dodging rogue frisbees on the beach and arguing with our satnav about the best route to Tahoe, it's easy to lose track of the finer points of state government.
So the next time you find yourself wondering what legislative session California is in, don't fret. Just remember, it's probably the one that started in December of the previous year and stretches on for what feels like an eternity.
Or, you know, you could just bookmark this post. We won't judge.
